INDIANAPOLIS --- On the strength of a five-game winning streak to end the regular-season, the Tusculum Pioneers are ranked eighth in the latest NCAA Division II Southeast Region Men's Basketball Poll.

The Pioneers (16-10) are riding a six-game winning streak including Wednesday's 73-71 come-from-behind win over Wingate in the quarterfinal of the South Atlantic Conference Basketball Championship.

Tusculum is one of four SAC teams listed in this week's region rankings which is the official poll utilized by the NCAA in the championship selection process. The NCAA II Men's Basketball Committee will announce the championship field later this weekend.

The top-three remains the same with UNC Pembroke, Augusta and Lincoln Memorial holding the top spots from a week ago. USC Aiken is fourth and North Georgia is fifth as the two team flip-flop their positions from the last poll. Catawba is sixth, followed by Lander, Tusculum, Newberry and Young Harris to round out the top-10.

Tusculum's late season success, coupled with its impressive 4-1 record against teams listed in this week's poll, accounts for the Pioneers rise in the rankings. Tusculum is 1-1 against No. 3 LMU, while accounting for wins against No. 4 USC Aiken, No. 6 Catawba and No. 9 Newberry.

The tournament champions for the SAC, Peach Belt Conference and Conference Carolinas will receive an automatic bid to next week's NCAA postseason. Five at-large berths will comprise the remainder of the eight-team regional which will be held at campus sites.

The Pioneers advance to Saturday's SAC semifinal match-up against Catawba at Timmons Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. Last Saturday, Tusculum rallied from a 13-point deficit to win 89-77 at Catawba in the regular-season finale.

NCAA II Southeast Region Poll

Tusculum Opponents in Italics